devotions for the daniel fast

Do the Work

May 31, 2013 By Kristen Feola

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work.” – 1 Chronicles 28:20a, NLT

I sat in front of my computer monitor. Three months, I thought. I have only three months to finish this book. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. My neck was tight, and my shoulders were sagging under the heavy load. I opened up the Word for encouragement and turned to my Bible reading passage for the day – 1 Chronicles 28.

King David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem for an important announcement:

“Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood. Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father (28:2-3, 6, NLT).” Then, in the presence of all the people, David presented Solomon with detailed instructions on the project. “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord (28:19).”

At this point, David turned to Solomon and said: “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly (28:20, NLT).”

The Lord spoke to my heart loudly and clearly through that last verse. I sensed him saying, “Kristen, be strong and courageous. I am with you. I have chosen you to write this book, just as I chose David to be king and Solomon to build the Temple. You can trust me to provide everything you need. I will see to it that the book is written just as I want it to be.”

Are you feeling overwhelmed by what God has called you to do? Don’t let fear keep you from moving forward. Remember, God is with you. Put your trust in him, and remind yourself daily, if necessary: “What is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27).”

Be strong in the Lord, and do the work. God will take care of the rest.

Bring Your Family to Jesus

May 13, 2013 By Kristen Feola

“Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” – John 1:40-42

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been called to share the good news of salvation with the people around us. Yet, often our greatest challenge is not in witnessing to strangers, but to those we know the best – members of our own family. Andrew’s story can encourage us. In John 1, we see that the first thing Andrew did when he heard about Jesus was to tell his brother, Simon. Verse 42 reveals what Andrew did next: “And he brought him to Jesus.”

When Andrew introduced his brother to the Savior of the world, Simon’s life was never the same. That day, Simon became Cephas (or Peter), which is translated as “rock.” Peter ended up being one of the most passionate and influential of Jesus’ followers, whose faith played a big part in laying the foundation for Christianity. Much of the book of Acts records the display of God’s power through Peter’s ministry.

I want to be like Andrew and bring my family to Jesus. Although many are believers, there are some who haven’t yet accepted God’s gift of salvation. I continue to pray their eyes will be opened to the truth. I long to see their lives radically, permanently changed – just like Peter’s was!

Do you have family members still living in darkness? If so, don’t stop interceding for them! The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:4, “Anyone who is among the living has hope.” Your loved ones are not without hope for salvation if they are still breathing. Therefore, trust God to do the work He needs to do in their hearts and to do it in His timing. Do your part, and pray for opportunities to bring your family to Jesus this year!

Held By His Grace

May 10, 2013 By Kristen Feola

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” – 2 Cor. 12:9, NLT

It was Sunday, January 6, 2013, day one of my Daniel Fast. As I stood in church and worshiped the Lord, I could sense God’s nearness. I was filled with anticipation about the fast and what God had in store. However, three hours later, that jubilant feeling had disappeared as I lay in bed with a high fever. It was the beginning of a month-long battle with the flu.

Many times during that illness, I was tempted to feel sorry for myself and burst into tears. However, instead of “losing it,” I frequently had to remind myself of these three truths:

1) God is in control.
2) He has a purpose in allowing this affliction.
3) He will provide the strength I need.

Moments of weakness, although unpleasant, are actually beneficial. Suffering is a great teacher, for it reminds us how dependent we are upon the Lord. The events of your life are not random. Just as God knew I would be sick during my entire Daniel Fast, He is not surprised at all by your circumstances. Everything in your life has been filtered through the loving hand of your Father because there is something He wants to develop in you. Therefore, do not resist Him! Trust God to bring good out of your situation.

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) says, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Maybe you can relate to my experience because you’re struggling physically. Or, perhaps you’re facing financial disaster or a broken marriage. Whatever your need, don’t allow fear to enter your heart and steal your joy. Instead, focus on God’s blessings, remembering that His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

My prayer for you today is that you find peace in the Father’s arms. May you be strengthened in your inner being as you put your hope in Him!

When God Seems Far Away

May 6, 2013 By Kristen Feola

Have you ever gone through a hard time and felt abandoned by God? Most of us probably have at one time or another. Maybe you’re there right now. Even though it may seem as if God has left you, He hasn’t. God is with you, whether you feel His presence or not.

Sometimes God can seem very distant when our questions or prayers go unanswered. However, the Bible says in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” God’s purposes are beyond our understanding. We can’t begin to wrap our brains around all that He’s doing in our lives. Therefore, in moments of confusion, we need to put our trust in what we do know to be true, verses such as:

1)         God’s plans for me are for my good (Jeremiah 29:11).
2)         God is faithful in all he does (Psalm 33:4).
3)         God will fulfill His purpose for me (Psalm 138:8).

The next time your feelings say God isn’t paying attention to your concerns, tell yourself the truth: God sees, and He cares! In fact, it’s often during the silence that He’s working to bring about the help you need.

Our God is gracious, compassionate, and kind. He is forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who put their faith in Him and His Word. Though our emotions may be up and down, the Lord God remains the same. He is constant and steady. Those who put their trust in Him will not be disappointed!

The ABCs of Praise

May 3, 2013 By Kristen Feola

“You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you!” – Psalm 118:28, NLT

On Thursday mornings, I lead a group at my daughters’ school called Moms in Prayer. A group of dedicated mothers and grandmothers meet to intercede for our teachers, administration, staff, and, of course, our children. Each week, we begin our 45-minute prayer time with praise. Then, we spend a few moments in silent confession, followed by thanksgiving and intercession.

Praise is one of the most important components of prayer, but, unfortunately, it’s probably the most neglected. Many people think they are praising God when they’re actually giving thanks to Him. Although both are necessary in the life of a believer, they are not the same. Praise is acknowledging God for who He is, while thanksgiving is offering words of gratitude for what He has done.

Think of how good it feels when someone gives you a compliment. That’s exactly what you’re doing when you praise the Lord! You tell God how great He is!

One way I like to praise God is by going through the ABCs. I speak out God’s attributes, character, or name for each letter of the alphabet. It goes something like this:

God, you’re…
A- awesome, amazing, the Alpha and Omega
B – beautiful, the Bread of Life
C – compassionate, the God of all comfort, caring
D – my Deliverer
E – eternal, excellent in all your ways
F – faithful, Father, friend, forgiving
(all the way to “Z”)

When you pray, be sure to begin with praise. Resist the temptation to rush right to your requests. Instead, worship the Lord, and exalt His holy name!

Make the commitment of Psalm 145:2 (NLT): “I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.” Give my ABC idea a try, and see what you think.

His Words Are Your Life

May 1, 2013 By Kristen Feola

“These instructions are not empty words – they are your life!” – Deuteronomy 32:47, NLT

I gazed longingly out the airplane window. My mission trip to El Salvador had been a wonderful, life-changing experience, but I was ready to be home. I missed my husband and daughters. I wanted the comfort of my own bed and was eager to get back into my daily routine.

As we approached the outskirts of Springfield, a field below caught my attention, not that there was anything special about it, but because I’d seen it before…about 15 minutes earlier. My heart sank. We weren’t preparing for landing. We were going in circles.

The plane continued to hover as the pilot waited for conditions to improve. After nearly an hour, he announced that we might divert to a nearby airport to refuel before attempting another landing. Tears filled my eyes. After traveling for two days, I was physically exhausted and emotionally drained. I couldn’t believe that we had come this far only to be rerouted. My destination was within reach, but I couldn’t get there. Circumstances beyond my control were keeping me from the joy of being with my family again.

I bowed my head and prayed: “God, You’re in charge of the weather. Please clear the skies so we can land.” Shortly after I finished, I heard the pilot’s voice on the intercom. I took a deep breath and waited for the verdict. As soon as he announced his plan, passengers cheered and applauded. A huge wave of relief swept over me, and I said, “Praise the Lord!” The sound of the landing gear being engaged was like sweet music to my ears. Within minutes, I was on the ground. I’d finally made it home.

Every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should be living an extraordinary life – one that’s full of joy, packed with adventure, and characterized by victory. However, many Christians often get stuck in a holding pattern, much like I was that day on that plane. No matter how hard they try, God still seems far away. A deeper connection with their Creator eludes them. Frustrated, they wonder what they’re missing, and their motivation for spiritual growth wanes. Instead of moving forward in their relationship with the Lord, they end up going in circles, chasing contentment in things that don’t satisfy.

The missing ingredient, in most cases, is the Word of God, or, should I say, the commitment to read it on a regular basis. The pages of Scripture are not just nice stories for our occasional entertainment. As Deuteronomy 32:47 says, “They are your life!”

If you want to grow closer to God this year, decide right now to make his Word a priority. Be in the Word every day. By continually reading and meditating on truth, you will develop a greater understanding of who God is and experience the abundant life He has for you.

The God of Second Chances

March 8, 2013 By Kristen Feola

When I’m on my skates, things happen. Spiritual things. Not anything super weird or freaky. Just God’s voice speaking. Prompting. Convicting.

This past Monday was an unseasonably warm winter day here in the Ozarks. I took advantage of the sunshine by heading out to one of my favorite local trails. After about 15 minutes, I passed a young woman and immediately noticed her posture. Her head was slightly lowered, with her eyes staring at the ground. Her body language shouted, “I’m so sad!”

I skated on. A distant memory surfaced from last July. The same trail. Rollerblading. A young woman.

Nah.

Something else caught my attention, and I moved on to the next train of thought. Then, during my final mile, I saw her again. This time she was sitting on a bench. Same slumped posture. Same sad gaze.

I sensed that God wanted me to stop and talk to her. Yet, I struggled with knowing if that “sense” was really from Him. I said aloud, “God, how do I know it’s you? How can I be sure?”

I needed a visible sign and decided to “put out a fleece” like Gideon did in Judges 6. Therefore, my plan was this: If the woman was still seated when I passed the bench a second time, I would stop. If not, then I wouldn’t.

When I came to the turnaround point on the trail, I skated back in her direction. I saw the bench. I saw her on it. As I got closer, though, I saw her getting up! I decided to go for it anyway. I said, “This may sound really strange, but I feel like the Lord wants me to tell you something. He wants you to know He loves you.”

She stopped abruptly, gave me a puzzled, almost angry look, and said with a thick accent, “You LOVE me? What the h— is that all about?”

“No, no!” I said, seeing her confusion as result of the language barrier. “God loves you. He wants you to know He sees your sadness, and He loves you.”

Then, she understood. She relaxed. She listened.

As I looked into her eyes, I also understood. The flashback from last summer came at me again, this time in full force. The young woman who approached me last July was the same woman standing before me. That day I had missed an opportunity to share Christ’s love with her. I had turned my back on a divine appointment. Yet, in God’s great mercy, He had answered my prayer for another chance. Little did I know, though, that the second chance would not be with another stranger, but with the very one He had sent my way the first time.

I was overwhelmed. All I could do was say, “Thank you, God,” as I talked with my new friend from Bulgaria.

(To read about my initial encounter, read Divine Appointment.)

Look for Opportunities to Love

January 22, 2013 By Kristen Feola

“Make the most of every opportunity.” – Ephesians 5:16, NLT

My oldest daughter, Isabelle, has a gift that never ceases to amaze me. No matter where we go, she always seems to find some kind of treasure on the ground. She notices things that the rest of us miss, and, most of the time, it’s money!

For example, this past summer we traveled to New York City to visit my husband’s parents. One afternoon we took the girls to Coney Island, and she found $10 on the Boardwalk!

Things like that happen all the time! Just a few weeks ago, Isabelle spotted a $5 bill near our car at a gas station. However, she doesn’t keep finding money because she is “lucky.” The reason she frequently makes such discoveries is because she looks for them. Her eyes are always searching for the next big find.

As believers, we must have our spiritual eyes open to what God is doing around us. Every day, we encounter people who need to be seen. People who are hurting. People who just want to be noticed and loved. Unless we’re looking, though, we won’t see them.

Today, I encourage you to find ways to share Christ’s love with others. Maybe the Lord wants you to pray with a co-worker or help a family in your neighborhood. Or, perhaps He is prompting you to have a spiritual discussion with a member of your family. Simply step out in faith, and trust the Lord to guide you. He will show you what to say and do.

When you ask God for such opportunities, you should expect them to receive them. Therefore, approach this day in anticipation of divine appointments! May the Lord go before you and prepare the way!

My One Word for 2013

January 4, 2013 By Kristen Feola

Each January since 2011, I’ve asked God to give me one word for the year, a word that describes a special work He wants to do in and through me. The first year, my word was SATISFIED. Last year, it was PEACE.

For the past few days, I’ve been praying for my 2013 word. I want to share how the Lord revealed and confirmed it, all in one day:

1) When I woke up Thursday morning, I had the word “REJOICE” on my mind. I distinctly remember seeing the word in my dream, although I can’t tell you anything about the context.

2) Thursday afternoon, I sat in the sauna for about 30 minutes after exercising. I had my headphones on, listening to our local Christian music station. One of the commercials was for a clothing store. I wasn’t really paying too much attention to it until the last sentence of the ad. The final word was REJOICE. I laughed, thinking it was odd, but still not really sure that was my word.

3) Later that night, I was scrolling through the hundreds of photos on my iPhone, and I came across this photo of my REJOICE mug. My friend, Bonnie, gave me the mug in September, after I spoke at the women’s retreat she organized. Little did she know that her present would hold much more significance than a simple “thank you.”

After having these three experiences in one day, I am convinced. My one word for 2013 is REJOICE, which means:

to feel or show great joy or delight.
to be glad.
to fill with joy.

I believe God gave me this word because He wants me to experience and express greater joy this year. Following are ways in which I can grow in this area:

1) To choose joy daily, recognizing that each day is a gift from God.

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

2) To be filled with joy at all times, even in difficult circumstances.

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again–rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4, NLT

3) To have a glad heart that encourages joy in others, which brings glory to God.

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!” – Revelation 19:7a

I encourage you to spend time seeking out a word for 2013 (for more information on the process, see the links above). Ask God to reveal it to you, and then wait patiently on Him. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get your word right away, either! The first year, I waited for more than a month. Remember, God is never late. His timing is always perfect.

2013 is going to be full of miracles and answers to prayer. I’m already rejoicing at the great things God is going to do!

My Story

August 26, 2010 By Kristen Feola

Our church held a corporate Daniel Fast in September 2009 in preparation for the launch of our second campus. I started a blog on day one of the fast, thinking it would just be fun to write about what God showed me. I never planned for it to be anything more than a journal. While cooking Marinated Zucchini for dinner that night, I thought, “This would be a great recipe for people at James River who are doing the Daniel Fast.”I began posting recipes and devotions daily. Before I knew it, not only people from our church were benefitting from the blog but also people all across the United States and around the world. It was an amazing, humbling realization of Ephesians 3:20, which says:

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” – The Message

The Lord definitely showed me that He can do anything. This blog, the book…both are indeed far more than my mind could ever have even conceived. Throughout this whole journey, God has led me every step of the way.

Well, that’s the short and sweet version of how the blog began. I’m still in awe that God has allowed me to be a part of something so creative and unique. He has taken two things that I love to do – cook and write – and combined them into one unbelievable blessing! Of course, there is much more to the story, but you’ll have to buy my book, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast, to find out the rest! 🙂